Rosemont, Ill. – The No. 24 Saint Xavier University softball team (3-1/0-0 CCAC) opened their 2024 season at the Roosevelt University (Ill.) Dome Tournament at the Ballpark in Rosemont in Rosemont, Ill. this weekend. The Cougars defeated William Penn University (Iowa), 8-3, in their season opener Saturday afternoon as senior infielder
Alexus Reese (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) and sophomore infielder
Kaitlyn Wright (Chicago, Ill./Marist) each drove in three runs. SXU lost the night cap to Madonna University (Mich.) by a 4-1 decision with sophomore outfielder
Haley Matlock (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) lacing an RBI double. Senior pitcher
Laila Summers (Joliet, Ill./Providence Catholic) fired a three-hit shutout with three strikeouts to help give Saint Xavier a 3-0 triumph over Concordia University-Ann Arbor (Mich.) Sunday morning. A two-out rally in the top of the 7
th gave the Cougars a thrilling comeback win over Madonna to end the weekend as freshman infielder
Aubrey Wroble (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) and Matlock hit back-to-back RBI singles to give junior pitcher
Julianne Claas (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Hamilton) to victory and Summers picked up the save.
Game One:
- Wright was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and a double.
- Wroble went 3-for-4 in her collegiate debut and scored twice
- Reese finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double
- Junior outfielder Kyla Kissee (Monee, Ill./Crete-Monee) was 2-for-4 as well with a double and a run scored.
- Junior catcher Lindsay Morgan (Huntley, Ill./Keiser/Huntley) and junior infielder Abbie Carr (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) each went 1-for-4 win a stolen base, and Carr tallied a run.
- Claas (1-0) went the distance, throwing 7.0 innings with 10 hits, three runs (all earned), a walk and four strikeouts.
- Reese opened the scoring with an RBI double in the top of the 1st.
- Wright belted a two-run double in the top of the 2nd and collected her third RBI of the game with an RBI single and Matlock drove in a run on an infield single in the top of the 4th to push the lead to 5-0.
- The Statesmen got on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the 4th.
- Carr scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 5th. WPU cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning off an RBI base hit and a run scoring fielder's choice.
- Reese put the game away with a two-run single in the top of the 6th.
Game Two:
- Wroble was 2-for-3, while Wright and Matlock both went 1-for-3 at the plate.
- Summers (0-1) tossed a complete game by allowing just six hits, four runs (three earned), a walk and striking out three batters.
- Matlock sliced an RBI double to the gap in left center to give SXU a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 3rd.
- The Crusaders rallied for four runs in the top of the 6th with a two-run single, a run crossing on a throwing error and an RBI groundout.
Game Three:
- Wroble had two hits in three at-bats from the leadoff spot, scoring two runs and stealing a base.
- Reese was 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Matlock went 1-for-2 with a run.
- Senior infielder Brooke Koran (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) finished 2-for-2.
- Summers (1-1) scattered three hits over 7.0 innings and she posted three strikeouts.
- Reese drove in Wroble with an RBI base hit in the bottom of the 1st.
- Matlock hit a 'Little League Home Run' in the bottom of the 3rd as she reached base on an error that allowed both her and Wroble to score.
Game Four:
- Wroble again was a tough out as she finished 2-for-4.
- Matlock and sophomore designated player Taylor Becker (Alsip, Ill./Shepard) each went 1-for-3, respectively.
- Claas (2-0) threw 6.0 innings with seven hits, one earned run, a walk and a strikeout.
- MU took the lead on an RBI single in the bottom of the 4th.
- Kissee led off the top of the 7th by reaching on an error. Sophomore outfielder Andriana Kilias (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) legged out a two-out infield single, setting up the back-to-back RBI single by Wroble and Matlock.
- The Crusaders started the bottom of the 7th with consecutive singles and Summers was brought in for the save opportunity. A sacrifice bunt moved the tying and winning runs into scoring position, however a line drive to Wright at third base allowed her to turn an unassisted double play to secure the comeback victory.
No. 24 Saint Xavier (3-1/0-0 CCAC) plays in the St. Ambrose University (Iowa) Dome Tournament next Saturday, February 17, when they play William Penn and Madonna in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm.